Presenting Issues of Concern among Active-Duty Service Members with Depression and/or Suicidality

Abstract

Abstract The military continues to have higher rates of suicide than the civilian population. Literature indicates that rates of depression and suicidality are influenced by branch of service, marital status, rank, and deployment. However, the specific issues of concern for service members who seek mental health treatment with depression and/or suicidal ideation when they first present is absent from the literature. This study inspects archived records and counselor notes from 422 outpatient and inpatient mental health records at a US naval hospital to examine presenting issues among service members with documented depression or suicidality. Fourteen presenting issues were identified. The most pervasive presenting issues were work stress (32%) and partner relational stress (28.9%). Statistically significant differences are presented based on gender, inpatient/outpatient status, living status, marital status, suicide attempt, rank, and age.